A Sea Of Red

No that isnt the name of the next great double play combination...its the name of the starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers who was one out away from a perfect game and the umpire who later admitted to blowing a call on what should have been the final out of the third perfect game in a month's time. On the play in question, the first baseman cleanly fields a ground ball and fires it to Galarraga covering first. He beats the runner to the bag by about half a step (and replays cleary show Galarraga beating the runner to the base) and Joyce calls the runner safe, to the chagrin of the entire crowd AND the entire Detroit Tigers team. He gets the next man out and is credited with a one-hitter. Joyce admitted after that he knows he cost him a perfect game (and if you watch the replay, there is no questioning whether the runner is safe or out.)

Here's the video and story- http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300602106

My gosh. They both must feel like crap right now.

FAIL - The guy is one out away and unless the guy is clearly safe you can't screw up that call. If you mess up major league history you should be history, end of story.

I'm definitely more a tradionalist when it comes to baseball, including superstitions, brawls, replay, and umpires. I enjoy the unaltered human element (ie. no 'roids, no hgh). But this was just wrong. MLB should overturn this and give Gallaraga perfection.

What makes this instance so unique it that it was the last out of the game, and correcting the call would not change anything else. I have already heard things like "what if the error was in the other direction, and they called him out when he was safe?" It's not the same. Then you would have to go back and pick the game up at that point if the call were reversed. I don't think very many people are arguing for that. In this specific case you can change the call and the game is over. Wrong righted......... history made (again). Why not?

The umpires should have put their collective heads together, like they sometimes do in the playoffs, and at least discussed the call. Maybe then they would have overturned it. That would have been Must-See TV. Blown call, umpires get together to discuss call, talk for a minute (or five), point to first base, fist-pump, people go nutz!

You need to watch the runner's expression after the call. Even he knew he was out.

WinterIsComing wrote:The umpires should have put their collective heads together, like they sometimes do in the playoffs, and at least discussed the call. Maybe then they would have overturned it. That would have been Must-See TV. Blown call, umpires get together to discuss call, talk for a minute (or five), point to first base, fist-pump, people go nutz!

Having been an umpire for seven years, this infringes on the difference between a "rule" and a "judgment call." Out/safe is a judgment call. He can't be overruled by any member of his crew. They're trained that way. And certainly, no one would dare do it to a 22-year World Series-level veteran.

Instant reply can overturn certain judgments. But working crews cannot. Not at least this kind, unless he seeks their help (I.e., he could ask for assistance from the home plate umpire in regards to whther a first baseman pulled his foot or not).

Just a side note. Does anyone think it's a coinkydink that we have already had 3 perfect games (one unofficial) in less than a third of a season, when there hadn't been more than one in a year since the WWI era?

Greenburg speculated this morning that it's the testing for and discontinued use of amphetimines that may be a factor. All 3 teams who were shut down were playing at least their 6th day/night in a row on the road. A lot of players used to take speed to get hyped for the games on those trips.

In response to JK37 cause I royally screwed up the quotes thing from his previous post.

That's interesting. I knew no one else on the crew could overrule a judgement call but could Joyce have sought the crews help after he made the call? And then overturned it?

I think if umpires discussed every close play, it would be bad for the game. But in the playoffs and situations like last night, hey, take the time to get together and get the call right, WITHOUT replay. If they do it often enough in key situtations, the whole need-for-more-replay thing might go out the window. I know some umpires have pride and ego issues but really, asking for some help in the playoffs and potetially rare/historic moments isn't a bad thing. It's a wise thing.

Oldflame, I agree with the thought that it might have to do with the testing issue, but it should be pointed out that in Halladay's Perfect game, the Marlins were the home team.

WinterIsComing wrote:In response to JK37 cause I royally screwed up the quotes thing from his previous post.

That's interesting. I knew no one else on the crew could overrule a judgement call but could Joyce have sought the crews help after he made the call? And then overturned it?

I think if umpires discussed every close play, it would be bad for the game. But in the playoffs and situations like last night, hey, take the time to get together and get the call right, WITHOUT replay. If they do it often enough in key situtations, the whole need-for-more-replay thing might go out the window. I know some umpires have pride and ego issues but really, asking for some help in the playoffs and potetially rare/historic moments isn't a bad thing. It's a wise thing.

He could have asked for help, but I've only ever seen an ump ask for help on that type of play when there's a question of a pulled foot, or the ump was obstructed in some way. And listening to Joyce, he thought he had it right.


Through the 8th and 9th innings, every guy on that crew is saying to himself, "Don't get caught up in history hype; just be right!" I can't be certain, but maybe he pushed himself that way, and in this instance to a fault.

Bottom line: perfect games for umpires are about as rare as perfect games or no-hitters for pitchers. There's always improvments to be made, and errors happen. With every human element, there is a chance for mistakes and errors. We're talking about this today not because he missed a call, but because of what was on the line - and that's fine.

Joyce, Galarraga, and Leyland all showed class in the aftermath of this. A 22-year career doing something he LOVES at the highest level, and he'll be remembered for that single moment. I feel for the guy.

vastrightwinger wrote:Oldflame, I agree with the thought that it might have to do with the testing issue, but it should be pointed out that in Halladay's Perfect game, the Marlins were the home team.

nevermind that we never heard a peep out of anyone when halladay through 2 obvious balls on 2 separate 3-2 counts in his "perfect" game.

RubberMallet wrote:

vastrightwinger wrote:Oldflame, I agree with the thought that it might have to do with the testing issue, but it should be pointed out that in Halladay's Perfect game, the Marlins were the home team.

nevermind that we never heard a peep out of anyone when halladay through 2 obvious balls on 2 separate 3-2 counts in his "perfect" game.

Interesting i have MLB.tv and they have pitch tracks ill have to go back and watch those to see if they feel out of the zone. But lets be honest ELITE athletes get calls, i mean Pedro/Maddux in there day got a sick amount of corners that weren't corners.

Rocketfan wrote:

RubberMallet wrote:

vastrightwinger wrote:Oldflame, I agree with the thought that it might have to do with the testing issue, but it should be pointed out that in Halladay's Perfect game, the Marlins were the home team.

nevermind that we never heard a peep out of anyone when halladay through 2 obvious balls on 2 separate 3-2 counts in his "perfect" game.

Interesting i have MLB.tv and they have pitch tracks ill have to go back and watch those to see if they feel out of the zone. But lets be honest ELITE athletes get calls, i mean Pedro/Maddux in there day got a sick amount of corners that weren't corners.

everyone feels balls strikes are subjective...we don't have a problem if the ump is consistant. the problem is that there is a definitive strikezone in the rules. its not up to interpretation technically. so they are just as right/wrong as this obvious gaff on the part of the joyce.

the entire game of baseball is subjective. this is unfortunate but its part of the game and you have to deal with it. i hear bud is doing nothing with this call and i agree with him. don't set a precedent and give one of your better umps that ability to move on from this.